Here is where I used to document my attempts to train for marathons, ultramarathons, and triathlons. Now I chase my two toddlers, and occasionally fit in a run around working and sleeping.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Changing the title of this post because it gets ridiculous spam

Confession: I'm starting to think that maybe I didn't allow myself enough time in between my 50 mile race and my next marathon. I planned on an entire month to recover, and two months to train. I didn't count on bronchitis wasting some of my already extremely limited training time.

I also didn't count on a month not being enough to recover. Physically, sure, I feel fine. Mentally - I'm sort of not really feeling training again.. But only sometimes. Too bad though, I got on a runner's high way back when and registered, the race is paid for, the hotel is booked, and I have some awesome friends doing it with me. Obviously, the best thing to do is to suppress those feelings deep down inside me and pretend they don't exist.

These crazy thoughts don't exist all the time. I'm starting to get a bit excited about the race. I'm pretty sure I won't be trained to the level I originally hoped for, but I'll have fun. Until mile 20, at least.

Training is back on track this week though, with 37.5 miles completed (I'm using my free gym pass to do Body Pump tomorrow, so I'm done running for the week - probably). This morning, Lily and I completed our longest run since the 50 miler - 17 miles!

Here's the problem with distance running - just because you've run a long race, it doesn't make running a shorter distance any easier.

For example - when training for my second marathon, my husband didn't understand why I'd get anxious before a 20 mile run (or, for that matter, a 12 mile run). He'd be all "but you've already run 26.2 miles!". I wish it worked that way, but, unfortunately, once you've worked your way up to a certain distance, all shorter distances don't suddenly become a piece of cake (in my experience). Especially when it's been awhile since you've done them.

When I woke up this morning, 17 miles seemed terrifyingly long. Just a few weeks ago, I had to do two 9 mile runs before work, and that distance on a weekday seemed enormous. I've done both of these things tons of times before, but, they still seemed daunting. Maybe less so than the first time I tackled them, but they still scare me.

Of course, I acted totally confident as we warmed up for the run and didn't admit any of this until we were walking back to the cars when it was over. Fake it till you make it is my strategy.

The run was great, because I had a buddy again (the last two long runs I've done have been solo), but it felt hard. The pace (average 9:39) didn't really feel too challenging, but it still felt difficult to run that far. If that makes sense. My legs were pretty stiff afterwards.

When I got home, Eric wasn't feeling well, and requested that I watch TV with him in bed. Well, I guess since he twisted my arm......

I still had the post long run breakfast/lunch/snack whatever of champions.

Coffee, coconut water, and pickles.

Such a weird, yet satisfying combo. The pickles are so salty, the coconut water tastes so refreshing, and the coffee is just needed because it's a day that I'm alive.

I've been extraordinarily lazy the rest of the day, which means Saturday is a win.

Do you still get nervous about running? Any particular distance that does it ("long" is a relative term).

10 comments:

i do still get nervous at the first 20 miler of a training cycle. isn't funny how a little time away can make you "re-fear" distances again? sometimes i look back and think "how the hell did i do that?"

I somehow though I could run a 13 mile hilly course today because once upon a time I ran a marathon...didn't work that way for me. By the way, I checked out Meetup.com and there ARE some hiking groups in my area - thanks for the suggestion!

Shoot, I want pickles now! If you get the urge to dip those suckers in ice cream, it might be time for a pregnancy test. Anything over 8 miles makes me sad and doubting, which is why I've never done more than half marathon. I am a wimp.

I totally agree...long runs are intimidating! Even when I'm not training, my long runs are up to 15mi, so that distance isn't scary, but anything long definitely is! I did my first 20 of this training cycle today. I was terrified! But it ended up being good!

I nervous-ed my way out of a trail run today worrying about running solo, the wind, if the kids would need picked up early, if the trails would be too muddy, rocky, hard, hilly.....I'm a dork. I think a runner still goes through those feelings no matter how long they have been running.

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